WEST DIVISION SEMIFINAL
What the Riders need to do to win
Will it be a November to remember for the Saskatchewan Roughriders or Winnipeg Blue Bombers?
The answer will become clear Sunday, when the prairie rivals meet at Mosaic Stadium in the CFL’S West Division semifinal.
Both teams are rolling heading into the game.
The Riders won five of their last six games (and nine of their last 11) en route to posting a 12-6 record and clinching a home playoff game for the first time since 2013.
The Blue Bombers also won five of their last six games and, at 10-8, finished third in the West. The Riders and Blue Bombers met three times during the regular season, with Saskatchewan winning twice.
Here’s what the Roughriders need to do if they want to reach the West final Nov. 18 in Calgary against the Stampeders.
WHEN SASKATCHEWAN HAS THE BALL
Saskatchewan’s offence has been inconsistent, generating a league-low 25 offensive touchdowns, compared to the Blue Bombers’ Cfl-best total of 53.
The Riders need to score touchdowns if they are to overcome Winnipeg. Whether that happens hinges on the health of quarterback Zach Collaros.
Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager, was coy this week when asked about Collaros’s status. He missed the final three quarters of the Riders’ 35-16 win over the B.C. Lions after taking a hit to the head Oct. 27. He has passed all of the CFL concussion protocols, so that shouldn’t deter the Riders from starting him.
On Friday, however, Jones was noncommittal when asked if Collaros would start. Backup Brandon Bridge took the majority of the repetitions with the firstteam offence. Collaros worked primarily with the second team.
“(The media) places way too much emphasis on that,” Jones said when asked who would start. “We’re going to prepare both guys like they are going to play and then we’ll see who plays.”
Collaros provides the Riders with their best chance to win. He had only nine touchdown passes against 13 interceptions, but the Riders are 10-4 in games that he starts and finishes.
A key for the Riders is protecting Collaros, which puts more pressure on the Riders’ makeshift offensive line.
Saskatchewan and Calgary allowed the fewest sacks in the league (27). However, Saskatchewan has surrendered 14 sacks in the last five games, with injuries being a contributing factor.
The Riders have run the ball effectively and were second in the CFL with an average of 111.9 rushing yards per game. Winnipeg was first at 134.9.
Saskatchewan will be without Tre Mason (knee), who led the Riders in rushing yards (809), but Cameron Marshall has regained the form he exhibited in 2017 before being sidelined by a knee injury at mid-season.
Marcus Thigpen is also expected to see more playing time after being on the sideline for the last two games. In 2017, Thigpen exploded for 169 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown run, in the Riders’ 31-20 win over the Ottawa Redblacks in the East Division semifinal.
Shaq Evans, who led the Riders in receiving yards (785), is expected to be sidelined with an undisclosed injury. It helps that Naaman Roosevelt (knee) is returning to the active roster against the Lions after missing four games. He is a veteran presence among the Riders’ youthful group of receivers.
Jordan Williams-lambert is a finalist for the CFL’S most outstanding rookie award after leading the Riders in receptions (62), finishing second on the team in receiving yards (764) and tying for the lead in touchdowns (four).
Williams-lambert’s absence was noted during the only game he missed due to injury — a 31-0 loss in Winnipeg on Oct. 13. He returned to the lineup the following week and had five catches for 113 yards in a 29-24 victory over the host Stampeders. That is the kind of difference he can make.
Winnipeg ’s difference-maker on defence is Adam Bighill, the West’s nominee for most outstanding defensive player.
Bighill had a monster game in the 31-0 win over Saskatchewan, recording eight defensive tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble.
WHEN WINNIPEG HAS THE BALL
The Blue Bombers boast the league’s best offence, averaging 30.6 points per game. Saskatchewan has one of the league’s best defences, holding teams to 24.7 points per game.
Saskatchewan makes teams pay for mistakes, as evidenced by a Cfl-record-tying 11 defensive touchdowns.
The Roughriders also held teams to an average of 91.9 rushing yards per game, good for second in the CFL behind Calgary (86.5).
The Riders also have West allstar defensive ends in Charleston Hughes and Willie Jefferson. Hughes led the CFL with 15 sacks. Jefferson had 10 sacks and two interception-return touchdowns, including a 97-yard gamechanger in Winnipeg on Sept. 8.
Jefferson and Hughes will be challenged because Winnipeg has one of the league’s best offensive lines, which includes three West all-stars.
The Riders have had mixed results while attempting to contain Andrew Harris, the league’s leading rusher (1,390 yards).
In the first meeting, Harris rushed for 158 yards on 15 carries in a 31-23 loss at Mosaic Stadium on Sept. 2. The following week, Harris was held to 10 carries for 21 yards as the Riders won 32-27. He was limited to 36 yards on 10 carries on Oct. 13.
The Sept. 8 game was the worst of Nichols’ season. He threw three interceptions, including two pick-sixes, before being benched.
Nichols has rebounded down the stretch with some impressive performances. He was not intercepted in the Oct. 13 game.
Harris was controlled while defensive tackle Mic’hael Brooks was on Saskatchewan’s roster. The run-stopper is on the sideline with a broken ankle, which contributed to the Riders signing Cory Johnson shortly after the Blue Bombers released him.
Former Riders slotback
Weston Dressler remains effective at 33. He has battled injuries this season, but the Blue Bombers are 10-3 this season when he has been on the active roster and 0-5 in his absence.
Limiting Harris and forcing the Blue Bombers to count on their passing game is a key to helping the Riders earn a berth in the West final.
We’re going to prepare both guys (Collaros and Bridge) like they are going to play and then we’ll see who plays.